MOMENTUM CHILDREN'S CHARITY - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- CEO
- Chief Executive
- Founder
Bianca is one of the original founders of Momentum Children's Charity and is our Chief Executive. Her primary focus continues to be hands-on provision of support to families. The charity has grown from her kitchen table to what it is today, and is a very important part of her life.
Job Titles:
- Chartered Accountant and a Partner
Chris is a chartered accountant and a partner in the Forensic Services practice at PwC, bringing a wealth of skills to the table including financial management, accountancy and management. He experienced first-hand the support we offer when his child was seriously ill. He joined the Board of Trustees in May 2017.
Job Titles:
- Director of Service Delivery
Claire joined Momentum Children's Charity in 2019 and is responsible for developing and delivering our strategy to have a positive impact on the families and hospitals we support, along with measuring and evaluating the impact of our work. Working with a dedicated team who focus on delivering therapies, in hospital services, refurbishment projects and respite activities, Claire is passionate about delivering exceptional support where it is most needed.
Fiona started her career as a Registered Nurse and has worked in NHS partner relations for over twenty years. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to support the hospital relationships at Momentum. Fiona has been involved with Momentum since 2005 when the charity supported her family whilst their daughter was receiving treatment for leukaemia. Through this lived-experience, she understands first-hand the wide-ranging needs of families and the impact of our support. She became a Trustee in 2022.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of Trustees
- Treasurer
Graham is a chartered accountant who owned a furniture rental company for over 35 years before retiring in 2021. Having lived in Kingston-upon-Thames for over 40 years, he is actively involved in the local community and is Treasurer of the Kingston Society. He is also one of the skippers of the Momentum boat and enjoys seeing first-hand the respite that this brings to many families. He initially joined Momentum as Treasurer in 2020 before taking over as Chair of the Board of Trustees in 2022.
James graduated with a BSc Hons in Economics, before going on to run Millmead Optical Group, where he has been CEO for 23 years. The company specialises in the provision of eyecare and eyewear in the UK and across the world. His experience as a business owner brings valuable management experience to the board. A father of three young children, working and living in Surrey, James wanted to give something back to the local community. Initially his involvement with Momentum was pro-bono marketing support before joining the Board of Trustees.
After 20 years in the advertising and technology industry, James now consults, advises and invests in a number of media, technology and creative companies. James joined the Board in September 2023 having first come into contact with Momentum via our Christmas fundraising activities.
Job Titles:
- Consultant
- Trustee and Designated Safeguarding Lead
Kate is a Consultant Paediatrician at the Evelina Children's Hospital in London. She has a special interest in epilepsy and neurodisability and leads the secondary care epilepsy service and further services for children with disability. She gained her MBBS from the Royal London Hospital and is a member of the Royal College of Paediatricians. Kate is our Trustee Designated Safeguarding Lead. She holds Level 3 paediatric safeguarding training and delivers training to paediatric trainees and medical students. She became involved having personally observed the invaluable support provided by Momentum to families who had lost a child. She joined the Board in May 2020.
Kieron has spent his career in the City of London. He is an executive director of JP Morgan and a fellow of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment. He is also an advisor to the trustees of Holy Cross Prep School in Kingston and Chairman of the 1930 Fund for District Nurses. He first became involved with Momentum in 2004, the year that his 17 year old daughter died from a brain tumour. He understands first-hand the gaps in service provision that Momentum aims to fill, and has enjoyed seeing the charity grow over the years to improve the support available for thousands of local families. Kieron joined the Board of Trustees in June 2012.
Job Titles:
- Director of Finance and Operations
Kristie oversees all the HR and financial operations for our charity, including financial reporting and risk management.
Mario spent all of his working life in online and offline travel, eventually growing the business into a global brand before selling it to private equity investors. His love for travel and business has continued since stepping down as CEO and he now sits on the boards of and invests in various travel companies as well as being Chairman of the ETOA (European Tourism Association). Bringing an array of skills from strategy planning and marketing, to financial management, he became involved with Momentum initially through a refurbishment project at Epsom Hospital, before joining the Board of Trustees.
Michael is a familiar face both on stage and TV and a familiar voice on Radio 4, in programmes such as Front Row, Off the page, Quote Unquote and BH. He is also a well known author and journalist, having written four best-selling books and he is a regular contributor to The Daily Telegraph and The Mail On Sunday.
Michele had a long career in advertising and marketing, both in the UK and USA. She was a passionate volunteer in the charity sector and joined Comic Relief as their Fundraising and Marketing Director responsible for Red Nose Day and Sport Relief in the UK. She was also a member of Comic Relief's UK and International Grants committee. She currently holds a non-executive directorship at Divine Chocolate and is a member of the Executive Steering Group at Time to Change, an anti-stigma mental health campaign. With her third sector, fundraising and marketing background, she brings important expertise to the charity in these vital areas. She became a Trustee in 2022.
Job Titles:
- Director of Fundraising & Marketing
Nina lead fundraising and marketing teams at both national and international development charities before joining Momentum in the summer of 2022. Prior to joining the voluntary sector, she enjoyed a career in the aviation industry, culminating in chairing the UK Star Alliance Committee of global airlines for three years. Nina is working with the team to focus on establishing stable and ambitious growth in income in line with our new strategic plans.
Job Titles:
- Financial Services Regulatory Lawyer and a Partner
Vanessa is a financial services regulatory lawyer and a partner at the US law firm, Kirkland & Ellis. As a trustee, Vanessa joined the board in 2018 and supports with charity governance matters. Vanessa's family was supported by Momentum when her son was diagnosed with cancer when he was two weeks old and died just four months later.
Victor joined the board in March 2016. He is a solicitor, with his own firm specialising in civil and commercial dispute.